BirdLife Malta has announced that the Is-Simar (Xemxija) and Ghadira nature reserves will be open to the public during weekends starting from today until the end of May 2008.

Both nature reserves have been managed by BirdLife Malta for over 16 years. Each year thousands of school children, nature lovers and tourists visit the reserves. The reserves are host to many migrating birds and also other wild life, such as weasels, hedgehogs and reptiles including chameleons and different species of fish. Visitors will also be able to bask in the peace and tranquillity that the reserves offer.

Is-Simar nature reserve in Xemxija is a wetland located in the Simar Special Protection Area (SPA). It was designated as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1996. Ghadira has also been designated as an SPA under the European Birds Directive by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and has also been identified as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the European Habitats Directive. Part of the site contains saline marshland and sand dune remnants. In 1988 the reserve was designated as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention.

The Ghadira Nature Reserve in Mellieha Bay will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, whilst Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija (access through the road opposite Xemxija Bay) will be open on Sundays only from 10am to 4pm.

There is no need to book visits and entrance to both reserves is free of charge. BirdLife staff and volunteers will escort the visitors and give information about the wild life in the reserves.

For more information please visit www.birdlifemalta.org... or call 21-347644/5 during office hours, Monday to Friday.